DOWNWIND FOIL

Expertise in downwind: quality equipment, advice, French carbon production.

SUPFoil” is a variant of stand-up paddle (SUP) that integrates a hydrofoil into the board.
What is supfoil?
What is a Foil?
Hydrofoil: This is a kind of wing mounted under the board. Drag Reduction: As the board is not in direct contact with the water, drag is considerably reduced, allowing a smoother glide.
Sup Foil
SUPFoil combines stand-up paddling with the addition of a hydrofoil under the board.
Practices
Surfing: Used for catching waves, SUPFoils allow you to surf with less effort, catching smaller or less powerful bumps than a traditional board could.
Down wind Paddling: Popular for down wind traverses, where riders use the waves and wind to propel the board.
Flat Water Paddling: Although more difficult, some people use SUPFoils on flat seas, taking advantage of the reduced drag.
Disadvantages and difficulties
Apprenticeship: More technical, requiring a certain learning curve.

Cost: Equipment is generally more expensive.

Safety: The practice requires particular attention to safety, especially on downwind practices.
What is a downwind?
Downwind is a new discipline that combines hydrofoil-equipped stand-up paddling (SUP) with downwind sailing.
Definition
Down wind: This refers to sailing with the wind at your back. In stand-up paddling, this means covering long distances using the wind and bumps to propel yourself forward.

Supfoil: This is a SUP equipped with a hydrofoil, a kind of underwater wing, which lifts the board above the water as speed increases, reducing resistance.
Downwind features
Exploiting Waves and Wind : The rider uses bumps and wind to get off the ground.

Technique: This requires good rowing technique and the ability to read the conditions to choose the best trajectories and exploit the waves and wind effectively.

Incredible glide: Downwind offers unique, surf-like sensations, with the ability to “fly” over long distances.

Long-distance routes: Downwind routes are often long, taking advantage of favourable wind conditions to cover great distances. The 1st Open France Downwind took place in Crozon.
Benefits
Reduced effort: Thanks to the foil, you need less effort to maintain speed than with a traditional SUP.

Accessibility to more conditions: Supfoils can exploit bumps and winds that traditional SUPs can’t.
Difficulties and precautions
Learning curve: Getting started with downwind supfoils can be difficult, and requires experience in SUP and foiling.

Safety: Because of the speed and distance involved, it’s important to take safety precautions, such as wearing a lifejacket and leash.

Specialized equipment: Choosing the right downwind equipment is crucial to a successful experience.
Which foil for downwind?
For a foil downwind (SUP or hydrofoil surfing), the choice of foil depends on several factors:

Rider weight : A heavier rider will require a foil with greater lift.
Wind conditions:
Light wind: A larger foil with a greater lifting surface is preferable to generate more lift.
Strong wind: A smaller foil offers more control and stability.
Experience and personal preferences:
Beginners : A larger, more stable foil is ideal.
Experienced/Pro riders: They may prefer smaller foils for better handling and glide.
Foil construction: Carbon foils are lightweight and high-performance, while aluminum foils are more affordable but heavier.

In our range, we have accessibility-oriented foils such as the Flyer or Performer that will make your first downwind in either supfoil or wing foil a breeze.

We also have ranges developed specifically for this purpose. These include the Pure HA (High Aspect) range, which provides the ultimate glide for endless bumps.

You’ll find the ideal surface for your size on these product sheets.
Which board for downwind?
The choice of board for downwind sailing, particularly stand-up paddle or prone foil, depends on several key factors:

Experience level:
Beginners: Choose a bigger, more stable board, with more volume to facilitate balance and bumps.
Experienced riders: They can opt for boards that are not necessarily shorter, or even longer, but narrower, offering better responsiveness and control.
Rider weight: Heavier riders will need more volume for adequate buoyancy.
Types:
SUP Downwind: Specially designed for tand up paddle downwind are long and narrow to promote speed.
Hybrid: these are often wider boards that can be used for wing foil as well as downwind supfoil.
In our AFS range, we have two boards for this purpose:

AFS Whitebird, regarded as a hybrid board that can be used for both downwind and wingsurfing
AFS Blackbird, originally developed for downwind supfoil. The 6’2 and 6’4 will stay with a hybrid shape and also work wonderfully for wingfoil. The 7’6 and 8’0 are pure downwind stand-up paddles.

Read our complete downwind guide.